By Matt Hunger
Mayoral candidate Jerry Walker will be holding a meet-and-greet at the opening of his Ward F headquarters Saturday, March 30 from 1 pm ? 5 pm (305 Martin Luther King Drive). Voters can better get to know Walker and his Ward F Council Candidate, Chantel Snow. There will be voter registration opportunities and light refreshments served.

Walker ? a former high school and college basketball star and founder of youth enrichment nonprofit Team Walker ? is a relative newcomer to the mayoral race, having announced his candidacy in late January for May?s election. Already Walker has participated in a mayoral forum, where he and fellow candidates Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop, and Abdul Malik discussed issues facing Jersey City voters.

There, he argued that the city?s approach to public safety was headed in the wrong direction. ?When I was growing up there was community policing, we knew the police on the corners. We looked up to them,? he said at the forum.

Saturday?s meet-and-greet will also give Ward F residents an opportunity to meet Snow, an English teacher at William Dickinson High School (her alma mater) and EdD candidate at St. Peter?s University. A lifelong resident and active church member, Snow will be running against two other slate-backed candidates: Healy-backed Jermaine Robinson and current Ward F Councilwoman Diane Coleman, who is running on Fulop?s ticket.

In addition to her work as a teacher, Snow was made a Court Appointed Special Advocate in 2003, and was responsible for helping children in abusive homes find safer shelter. She has also worked towards getting grant money for music education and promoting literacy programs in the area.

Previously, Walker?s campaign spokesman Andrew Mosel said Walker stood out from the other candidates because of his focus on the ?people.?

?The mayor has paid too much attention to people who have just moved in and rich Manhattan developers who are coming to build at the waterfront area without proper review,? Mosel said. That development, which often comes with a lengthy tax abatement, has drawn the ire of some residents who argue the tax break is meant to encourage growth in areas of the city under-developed as opposed to the well-established waterfront.

Can?t make the meeting? Walker will next be participating in Hudson Media Group?s televised mayoral forum on April 2nd, held at Loew?s Theater. More on Walker?s campaign here.